Follow our American family of 4 (+ one dog) as we begin our new life in Lillehammer, Norway.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Post-Halloween letter to the editor

A letter on the back page of the local paper (kind of letter to the general public) today read:

Can we not cut out all of Halloween? Is there anything positive about it? My children have never had permission and it hasn't been a problem!

Signed "Anti-Halloween mom".

Now, I'm not a huge crazy-Halloween fan, but c'mon Boring Lady! Dressing up in a crazy costume? Visiting your neighbors and having them giggle and comment on your get-up? Walking around the neighborhood on a dark, chilly night, running into your friends and classmates disguised in their crazy costumes? That alone is fun for a kid. I don't even have to mention the candy. . .

I feel sorry for the kids of that mom. Not that they didn't ever go Trick or Treating, but if that's her attitude about kids and fun, I hate to imagine what her idea of fun is. . .

1 comment:

Hear, hear! Totally agree! I read so many comments, not just from Norwegians but this year from a South African woman I know, that Halloween is a terrible American commercial export leading to the ruination of society and children's teeth. I'm not a big Halloweenie now but I was when I was a kid because, um, it's FUN!!! Lighten up, anti-Halloween people!

Who am I, really?

The Other Players

Erik: my sweet husband, a native Minnesotan with Norwegian ancestry. Lived in Voss and Trondheim, Norway from 1994-1996, and vowed to return. Once a competitive cross-country ski racer, now with a PhD under his belt and behind his name, he found a job that brought us all to Norway. Mission Accomplished.

Greta: our cheery 7 year old daughter, born in New England, moved to Norway at the age of 2.5 years and quickly became bilingual. Never stops drawing or reading, unless I tell her to put it down and pick up her violin.

Henrik: our newest addition, born in Lillehammer in February 2013, but still 100% American blooded and loves Elmo, tractors and cranes.

Tika: our 10 year old, 80lb Weimaraner/Black Lab hunk of a dog, who bravely faced her fears of confined spaces and loud noises and flew across the Atlantic Ocean in a drug-induced haze, and lived to bark about it. Loves tennis balls, long runs in the woods, and these gross dried fish treats we've found here.